Even now, the imagery in 1902’s *Trip to the Moon* remains striking, dreamlike, and unlike anything else, even when viewed today. The special effects, presented with a very deliberate artistic style, contribute to their lasting appeal. It's clear that Méliès was considered something of an innovator during his time, and the film shows real imagination. Still, after so much time has passed, it can be challenging to bec…

The beginning evokes something akin to Arthurian legend, showing astronomers assembled with telescopes and distinctive headwear. The reason for their gathering? They’re debating a potential lunar voyage. Predictably, the discussion becomes animated, but we then observe the recognizable form of a spacecraft being built – again amid disagreements, although the characters have now discarded their unusual clothing. A for…

_Le Voyage dans la Lune_, also known as _A Trip to the Moon_, is director Georges Méliès' best-known work, coming from a body of over 500 films he created. He plays Professor Barbenfouillis, who joins other astronomers in traveling to the moon’s surface aboard a spacecraft shaped like a bullet and launched by a giant cannon. Upon arrival, the explorers wander around the lunar landscape, sleep beneath the stars, and a…

I figured this would do well on Letterboxd, and it’s easy to see why. It feels significant, inventive, a record of what happened, and groundbreaking considering when it was made—all those things, really. However, I'm not convinced for a second that people genuinely landed on the moon. It should still be shown in film courses, though. _Final rating:★★½ - Didn’t completely click with me, but I understand its attr…